Info
- Band(s): Ara Solis
- Label(s): Iron Bonehead Productions, Zazen Sounds
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, CD
- Release Year: 2023
- Review Date: April 3, 2023
- Author(s): Marksson
‘Ashvattha’ is the debut album from a new Galician Black Metal duo who go by the name of Ara Solis. This three track opus will soon be unleashed by Iron Bonehead on LP, with a CD offering coming out through Zazen Sounds. At just over six minutes in length, opening track ‘Tromo Negro do Firmamento’ is the shortest on offer but packs in a great deal of anguished, howling vocal work and a gnarly line in savage bass leads that wind their way eerily through the track. Completed by a drum sound that is left further down in the production so that the cold, ruthless guitar leads can shine bleakly, this opening track is a nerve shredding aural experience from start to finish.
The lo-fi sound continues unabated into ‘Ara Solis’ whose more orthodox Black Metal riffs are also mired in gloom and murk. A much lengthier track, this becomes an ordeal of endurance with every aspect of the bands sound now pulled back into the darkness of the production so that everything is drenched in reverb and fuzz. In truth though this album does what it sets out to do; in that it never drops its inhospitable, seething atmosphere, nor relents in its unceasing aggression.
I do find the relentless nature of this album to be both to its credit and almost to its detriment. Luckily, the band lace their work with bouts of wailing vocal work that rises from the murk and sounds out clearly, as well as some much needed slower, more methodical moments of groove drenched rhythm. On the whole though ‘Ashvattha’ is a length spell of wanton speed, lo-fi savagery and indecipherable hostility!
Iron Bonehead Productions
- Country: Germany
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
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Zazen Sounds
- Country: Greece
- Style: Black Metal, Other
- Links: Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp
